It was a real education (From Bournemouth Echo)

It was a real education

11:30am Monday 18th February 2008

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I DOUBT very much there are many people who think the teaching profession is an easy option these days, except those who can't get beyond the old cliche of six weeks off every summer.

With constant criticism over standards, increasing demands from policymakers and a general acceptance that anti-social behaviour is on the rise, both inside and outside the classroom, it's no surprise that teachers are under more pressure than ever.

Some schools have more to deal with than others and that's often a matter of location.

So credit to Alyn Fendley, the head of Kings High for putting his hand "in the viper's nest" and agreeing to our request to send our education reporter into the school for a day, with no attempt to make anything off limits.

The resulting feature, published today, shows a hardworking and dedicated team doing a good job in sometimes less than ideal circumstances.

As Mr Fendley says himself, there is more to a school than the bare facts of a league table. And thank goodness for that.

• MORE inquests, more savage indictments of those who have sent our troops into two wars underfunded and ill-equipped.

Two coroners attacked the "unforgiveable failure" of the MoD to supply basic pieces of kit which might have saved the lives of three soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Everyone knows the government has consistently starved the military of cash. The man who controlled the purse strings for the 10 years up until last summer may yet have to pay a political price for that. In fact I have every confidence that Gordon Brown will.

He certainly deserves to.

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